Tapeline reel



Main; 1924.

J. A. GILM'AN TAPELINE REEL Filed April 26 192? Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

JOHN A. GILMAN, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

TAPELINE REEL.

Application filed April 26,

To allwizom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN A. GILMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the countyof King and the State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in T apeline Reels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tapelines of the type used by mechanics and contained in flat circular cases.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for automatically locking tapeline mechanism, including the reel upon which the tapeline is wound, by the action of the crank and handle when closing the same from the working to the closed position; and owing to the various styles of tapeline mechanism used in this type of tapeline, several modified forms of the idea as illustrated and explained herein are necessary for the accomplishment thereof, and

I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1, is a plan view of the side of a tapeline case showing the handle closed.

Fig. 2, is a sectional view through the line A-A of Figure 1, showing, in outline, the flanges which engage the handle.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged drawing, with parts cut away and parts in section, of the flanges which are shown in outline in Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is also an enlarged drawing of the flanges, shown by Fig. 2, before being bent into the position shown by Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view'through the line A-A of Fig. 1, of a modified form.

Figs. 6 and 7, are enlarged drawings of the rings 26, shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is also a section through the line AA of Fig. 1, though slightly difierent from Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the ring 26 as shown in Fig. 8.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the views.

These are two principal styles of tapelines of the type which is used by the various classes of mechanics.

1 will first illustrate and explain my looking device as applied to the style of tapeline mechanism and case illustrated by Fig. 1, which is a medium priced model and probably the style which is the most general in 55 use by the various classes of mechanics.

In this style of tapeline the construction 1922. Serial No. 556,561.

of mechanism and case is such that the diameter of the opening in the center oi the lower side or" the case is much smaller than the diameter of the reel, thereby making it possible for the handle which folds within the reel to function as a locking device when closed, either by engaging the flanges or projections fixed on, or by engaging notches, holes or recesses cut into the members which form the center part of the lower side of the case, or by engaging the member or members provided for that purpose and fixed to the lower side of the case.

The case 1 contains the reel 2, which is exposed on the top side of the case where it is provided with annular flange 3 and the crank 4L swingingly attached thereto by the pin 5 through the hinged joint 6 Loosely attached to the crank 4 by the pin (3 is the handle 7, which when closed, as shown in Fig. 2, will engage one of the flanges 8 shown in outline by Fig. 2, which are fixed to the case thereby preventing rotation of the reel.

The cases of this type of tapeline generally consist of an innermetal casing 9, and an outerleather or fibre casing 10, as shown in the sectional views by Figs. 2 and 3.

The axial post 11 may be attached to the upper side of the reel in any desired manner, and is generally engaged by a screw 15 which holds the reel in place.

,The post 11 and the screw 15 are hollow and are provided with a slidingly mounted pin 16 for the purpose ofpushing the crank 1 open for use.

The aperture in the center of the lower side of the case through which the screw 15 engages the post 11, may be constructed similar to the means shown by Figs. 2 and 3, wherein the outer member 17, which holds the outer casing 10, is connected with the inner casing 9 by a rolled joint.

The flanges 8, which areshown in outline in Fig. 2, may be welded soldered or crimped, riveted or screwed, directly to the inner casing 9 and the raised collar 19, or they may be stamped from a piece of sheet metal with a collar similar to the one shown by the fragmental view in Fig. 1, and bent to the required shape and attached to the inside of the case as shown by the enlarged drawing Fig. 3, the collar 20 containing the flanges fitting around the collar 19 formed by the inner casing 9 and held thereto by the portion 21 of the collar 19 crimped into the recess 22 of the collar 20 or vice versa, or by screws or rivets 23 through the collar 20, casing 9, covering 10 and the annular flange on. the member 17 as shown in Fig. 2.

In the form shown by Fig. 5, the locking of the reel is accomplished by the pin 6 projecting beyond the end of the handle 7. This projecting portion of the pin 6 is tapered, rounded or cone shaped for the purpose of easily engaging the recesses 24 when the handle is closed as shown at 25 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged drawing of a fragment of the ring 26 which contains the recesses 24 for engaging the projecting end of the pin 6. The upper annular flange 27 may be made in a vertical position and rolled to the position shown, thereby securely crimping the case 9 and the covering 10 in the annular groove 28.

Fig. 7 is a slightly modified form of the ring 26, wherein the recesses are in the form of short arcuate slots, thereby making the engagement of the pin 6 easier.

Fig. 8 is different from Fig. 5 only in the recesses 24: which are larger and engage the end of the entire handle as shown at 29 in Fig. 8.

It is evident that when the handle is closed the reel will be locked in position.

The main advantage of the improvements which constitute this invention is: That when the tapeline is reeled up and the handle closed to the folded position, the mechanism is automatically locked, thereby preventing unreeling by the spring action of the tapeline, which causes the outer end of the tapeline to protrude from the case and become bent or broken oil in the pocket of the workmen.

A further advantage is: l/Vhen taking horizontal measurements of points which are on different elevations, it is often necessary to use a plumbob and, at present, without this improvement it is very inconvenient to hold the tapeline case, the tapeline and the plumbob, it often being necessary to lay the case down or dispose of it in some other way as by dropping it in your pocket in order to have both hands free to stretch the tapeline and hold the plumbob, whereas with this improvement, by merely closing the handle which automatically locks the mechanism, the tapeline may be stretched with. the hand which holds the reel, leaving the other hand free to use a plumbob, pencil or other tool.

There are many other advantages in having this improvement on tapeline.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the improvements which constitute this invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, because it is obvious that various n'iodifications of the improvements herein shown and explained may be made, all without departing from the spirit of my in vention, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired, as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I, therefore, claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a case, a tapeline reel rotatably mounted therein, and a foldablc handle for operating the reel, of fixed stops on the inner side of the case e11- gageable by the handle in folded position whereby to hold the reel against rotation.

2. The combination of a case, a reel mounted rotatably in the case, a foldable handle for operating the reel, a stationary ring in the case, stops on said ring, and means for engaging a stop when the handle is folded whereby to hold the reel against rotation.

3. The combination of a case having an annular series of internal recesses, a reel rotatably mounted within the case concentric with said recesses and having one side disposed exteriorly of the case and a foldable handle mounted on said exterior side of the reel for operating the reel and having an end arranged to be housed within the reel and engage one of the recesses in the case in closed position whereby to lock the reel against rotation.

JOHN A. GILMAN Witnesses:

J. A. WALLACE, S. J. UMFRITE. 

